COVID-19 Update | Happy New Year
To all of our wonder patients, and those that we have not have the pleasure of meeting as yet - We hope you all had a lovely Christmas and would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for the year ahead.
We all felt the restrictions during the Christmas break and for many this meant not seeing family and friends; it has been tough for a lot of people. We had plans to travel over Christmas to see our families however, like most this was cancelled so Estie and I, with the boys, enjoyed a quiet family Christmas at home.
Soon after returning to work, we all heard the dreaded news from the Government that we were going into our third lockdown. Thankfully dentists have been permitted to stay open this time and we continue to see patients on a daily basis for both routine dental care and emergencies.
We, like many other dental clinics had a virtual CQC inspection just before we broke-up for Christmas at our Tonbridge clinic; this is something the CQC have introduced to check how dental clinics and their teams are managing the challenges of COVID-19. I am proud to report we did extremely well and was actually commended by the CQC inspector at how well we are doing. We have set up the same, robust procedures at Rustington so I am confident we are keeping you all safe.
I have an amazing team at Calm & Gentle and each and everyone of them go above and beyond every day to ensure we can continue to see patients and carry on as much as possible. This has meant starting early and finishing late but the team never let me down.
If you have not heard from us but know you are due or over-due your routine dental examination and hygiene visit, please let us know. We are working hard to contact everyone but are aware a few patients for various reasons have slipped through then net – we do not want to miss anyone so please, give Gemma a call and she will schedule the appointments you need.
If you are shielding or have been catagorised as clinically vulnerable (did you get a letter from your GP last year advising you to shield?), assuming you are not experiencing any dental issues, we would suggest that you wait a little longer, just until we are out of this lockdown to stay safe.
We have every confidence that all of our patients are safe when visiting us at the dental clinic however, despite the robust procedures we have implemented, this new strain of COVID appears to be incredibly infectious and it is always better to be safe rather than sorry!
If you are clinically vulnerable and have a dental emergency, please let us know – we will see you at the start of the day, before we get busy and so you are the first and only (if possible) patient in the clinic.
Our electronic portal seems to be working really well meaning all forms and documents can be completed in the comfort of your own home – the COVID risk assessment is especially helpful because it alerts us to any potential risk before patients enter the building, which of course is essential. We have signs everywhere advising patients what to do and where to go.
We will try out best to keep you all updated regularly this year – whilst that was our intention last year we failed some months basically due to the volume of patients we were seeing; we have never quiet seen anything like it.
I wish you all well – please do not forget to let us know if we can help in anyway, we are here to help; not just with your teeth!
Coronavirus Update Calm & Gentle Dental Care | 14th May 2020
With over seven weeks in lock-down could any of us imagined how our lives would change so much? We have seem images on the TV of people arguing over toilet roll and the supermarket shelves empty from panic buying, to amazing acts of human kindness. It really has been the most incredibly situation that we all find ourselves in.
Here at Calm & Gentle, we continue to help our patients where we can. Patients have used social media, mainly Facebook, email or just a good old fashioned phone call. Vanessa has continued to pop into the practice every other day and is able to log into our answer phone messages remotely to help any patients experiencing a dental issue.
Where a patient needs clinical advice Vanessa will contact either Graham or Fariba who will give you a call. The General Dental council have relaxed the rules around prescribing and for the first time our clinicians can prescribe antibiotics remotely – we can then either drop them off to you or arrange a convenient time for you to pick them up.
We have also purchased some temporary filling material which will be delivered on or around the 22nd May 2020. This has been incredibly difficult to get hold off!
It’s a great option for:
Its easy to use and will not compromise any future treatment. Please do not buy it from the internet if the cost exceeds £10 – I have seen it on Amazon for £72 which of course is disgraceful… Boots and Superdrug are also selling this material however; as I understand it stocks are low. If you need any, please let us know and as soon as it is in, we can make arrangements for you.
Where a patient has acute pain, we are able to refer to a dedicated COVID-19 dental clinic. The criterion is very strict, however, it is working and patients do seem to be seen fairly quickly.
With dental laboratories closed too, we are looking at purchasing some denture repair kit that can be used at home – we will keep you updated on this.
For many years Pieter has wanted to introduce a club at the practice, a club that gives recognition to our loyal patients. The lockdown has allowed Pieter to give ‘The Club’ some attention and we think we may have produced something quiet special for you all. I won’t say too much at this stage but listen out…we will be in touch shortly about The Club and how it will work…something exciting for the future.
I am pleased to report our team are all well and healthy – we are still communicating regularly and using this time do online courses and partake in various online learning that has become available. Whilst we would all prefer to be back at the surgery looking after your teeth and gums, we are all embracing the time at home to catch up on various bits and bobs and of course, loving the sunshine!
VE day celebration may have looked very different if we had not been in lockdown. Due to the current situation we all had to find a different way to celebrate. It was lovely to see people sitting outside with neighbours, keeping a safe distance of course but still taking the time to get together and share stories of what they recall back in 1945 when the War was finally declaired as over!
Ironic really that 75 years on we are fighting again, against an army that we cannot see! I am sure at some point on VE day you took a moment to stop to think about how elated our families must have been all those years ago when the end of the war was announced and in some ‘small’ way might compare it to how we might feel when we too can see our loved ones again and give them a hug…which is very long overdue!
The email address that is used to send out patient emails is not monitored daily – it is on a secured network. If you need to contact us, please email donna@calmandgentledentalcare.co.uk or call us on 01903 856888 – I promise we will contact you.
Don’t forget, we are here if you need us; please let us know if we can help in anyway or if you know of a neighbour that needs support.
Until our next update…Stay safe; look after yourselves and one another!
See you all soon J
Coronavirus Update Calm & Gentle Dental Care | 29th April 2020
Firstly, we hope you are all staying safe and keeping well during these unprecedented times. We wanted to stay in touch and keep you updated with what we are doing while our doors are closed.
There is lots going on behind the scenes to make sure that when we can see you all again you all feel safe.
No doubt we will need to get used to a new type of 'normal' for a while however, whatever it takes because the safety of our patients and staff is of the up-most importance to us.
We have continued to speak to patients that require dental advice and where necessary prescribed medication. Vanessa has continued to help patients that need support and been chatting to patients over the telephone. We love to hear from you!
If you know of anyone that needs our help - or maybe a regular call, please, let us know. We want to help where we can.
Fariba, Graham, Christina, Lilli, Karen, Jozcia and Vanessa are all keeping well and looking forward to seeing you all again soon.
Please, if you have any questions let us know? Either call 01903 856888 or email donna@calmandgentledentalcare.co.uk we promise we will get back to you.
Well, I will update our COVID-19 web page again next week - in the mean time, look after yourself and one another. 😊
Coronavirus Update Calm & Gentle Dental Care | 16th April 2020
Well, its been four weeks since we last updated our COVID-19 information page - how could we have all imagined the adjustments that we would need to make to ensure we stay safe and well? There’s no doubt that this is a very difficult time for everyone.
On the 25th March 2020 the NHS England issued a statement that provided us with much needed guidance as to what we were expected to do during these uncertain times. We had already implemented various measures to further ensure safety for all of our patients and staff however, on receipt of the statement issued, we, like all other dental clinics in the UK, both private and NHS were asked to close.
While we have been closed, we have received lots of questions from our current and new patients; we thought it might be helpful to share the questions and answers with you…I am sure they are things we have all thought about.
I have an appointment booked for next week; will it still go ahead?
No, all future appointments will be rescheduled. We are slowly contacting all patients however, this is a slow process and of course we do not know ‘at the moment’ when we will be through the other side of this pandemic so unable to reschedule a new appointment.
You may receive a text or email in the first instance – if you slip though the net, our apologies, please do not attend any appointments until further notice
I tried to call the practice but no one answered?
We have and are updating our answerphone message as much as possible – our telephone company provider is working hard to stay up-to-date however, as you can imagine they are inundated.
We are able to access the answer phone messages from home so please, leave us a message and someone will call you back. It may not be someone you are used to talking too but if necessary, we can organise for the dentist to call you and offer advice. Otherwise, send me an email - donna@calmandgentledentalcare.co.uk
I am worried that I will miss my routine dentist appointment
We understand patients will be concerned about their dental health but be reassured, if you are a regular attender and maintain excellent oral health, the chances of anything developing over the next 4 to 8 weeks (I am being optimistic!), is very low risk.
As always, brush twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste – think about introducing a mouthwash if you do not use one already and floss…there are many variations of floss and flossetts, teepees etc...on the market – I have copied a link below that you may also find useful.
https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/basics/brushing-and-flossing/how-to-floss
If the link doesn't open - copy and paste into your internet browser
Will I get gum disease if I miss my regular hygienist appointment?
If you continue to look after your teeth and gums at home, as mentioned above, it is very unlikely you will develop gum disease over the coming weeks. That said, please let us know if you have any concerns - we could always arrange for one of our hygienist to give you a call...we are here for you.
I have chipped a tooth, what can I do?
Firstly does it hurt? If yes, leave us a message or send me an email and we can arrange for one of our dentist to give you a call.
If it doesn't hurt but it is sharp we would suggest buying a temporary filling kit from Boots, Superdrug or the larger pharmacies. This putty like material will allow you to cover the sharp edge and protect your cheeks and tongue.
I have a very bad aching tooth, can you see me?
We are not able to see any patients at the moment however; the government are slowly implementing community hubs that will see patients with Acute dental pain.
If you are experiencing dental pain, leave us a message or send me an email and we can arrange for one of our dentist to give you a call.
Please, keep your questions coming – its good to stay in touch!
Do not forget, we want to help where we can so if you need any help or support, our staff are happy to help…we are in this together!
We will be in touch soon – stay well, stay safe and look after one another!
Coronavirus update Calm & Gentle Dental Care | 18th March 2020
The health and safety of our patients is extremely important to us. Our cross infection procedures are always maintained to the highest standards. Due to growing concerns surrounding the Coronvirus (COVID-19) we are exceeding our already vigilant practices and procedures to keep you safe to ensure both patient and staff safety.
Changes we are making this week:
We propose that if possible you keep your dental appointments especially if you are part-way through treatment.
If you or you know anyone that lives in Rustington that needs support, please let us know - we are happy to help where we can regarding picking up essentials - if we cannot help, we will find someone that can!
Let’s stay healthy and look after one another.
To all of our wonder patients, and those that we have not have the pleasure of meeting as yet - We hope you all had a lovely Christmas and would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for the year ahead.
We all felt the restrictions during the Christmas break and for many this meant not seeing family and friends; it has been tough for a lot of people. We had plans to travel over Christmas to see our families however, like most this was cancelled so Estie and I, with the boys, enjoyed a quiet family Christmas at home.
Soon after returning to work, we all heard the dreaded news from the Government that we were going into our third lockdown. Thankfully dentists have been permitted to stay open this time and we continue to see patients on a daily basis for both routine dental care and emergencies.
We, like many other dental clinics had a virtual CQC inspection just before we broke-up for Christmas at our Tonbridge clinic; this is something the CQC have introduced to check how dental clinics and their teams are managing the challenges of COVID-19. I am proud to report we did extremely well and was actually commended by the CQC inspector at how well we are doing. We have set up the same, robust procedures at Rustington so I am confident we are keeping you all safe.
I have an amazing team at Calm & Gentle and each and everyone of them go above and beyond every day to ensure we can continue to see patients and carry on as much as possible. This has meant starting early and finishing late but the team never let me down.
If you have not heard from us but know you are due or over-due your routine dental examination and hygiene visit, please let us know. We are working hard to contact everyone but are aware a few patients for various reasons have slipped through then net – we do not want to miss anyone so please, give Gemma a call and she will schedule the appointments you need.
If you are shielding or have been catagorised as clinically vulnerable (did you get a letter from your GP last year advising you to shield?), assuming you are not experiencing any dental issues, we would suggest that you wait a little longer, just until we are out of this lockdown to stay safe.
We have every confidence that all of our patients are safe when visiting us at the dental clinic however, despite the robust procedures we have implemented, this new strain of COVID appears to be incredibly infectious and it is always better to be safe rather than sorry!
If you are clinically vulnerable and have a dental emergency, please let us know – we will see you at the start of the day, before we get busy and so you are the first and only (if possible) patient in the clinic.
Our electronic portal seems to be working really well meaning all forms and documents can be completed in the comfort of your own home – the COVID risk assessment is especially helpful because it alerts us to any potential risk before patients enter the building, which of course is essential. We have signs everywhere advising patients what to do and where to go.
We will try out best to keep you all updated regularly this year – whilst that was our intention last year we failed some months basically due to the volume of patients we were seeing; we have never quiet seen anything like it.
I wish you all well – please do not forget to let us know if we can help in anyway, we are here to help; not just with your teeth!
Coronavirus Update Calm & Gentle Dental Care | 14th May 2020
With over seven weeks in lock-down could any of us imagined how our lives would change so much? We have seem images on the TV of people arguing over toilet roll and the supermarket shelves empty from panic buying, to amazing acts of human kindness. It really has been the most incredibly situation that we all find ourselves in.
Here at Calm & Gentle, we continue to help our patients where we can. Patients have used social media, mainly Facebook, email or just a good old fashioned phone call. Vanessa has continued to pop into the practice every other day and is able to log into our answer phone messages remotely to help any patients experiencing a dental issue.
Where a patient needs clinical advice Vanessa will contact either Graham or Fariba who will give you a call. The General Dental council have relaxed the rules around prescribing and for the first time our clinicians can prescribe antibiotics remotely – we can then either drop them off to you or arrange a convenient time for you to pick them up.
We have also purchased some temporary filling material which will be delivered on or around the 22nd May 2020. This has been incredibly difficult to get hold off!
It’s a great option for:
- A lost filling
- Broken tooth, especially if it is sharp
- Lost crown
Its easy to use and will not compromise any future treatment. Please do not buy it from the internet if the cost exceeds £10 – I have seen it on Amazon for £72 which of course is disgraceful… Boots and Superdrug are also selling this material however; as I understand it stocks are low. If you need any, please let us know and as soon as it is in, we can make arrangements for you.
Where a patient has acute pain, we are able to refer to a dedicated COVID-19 dental clinic. The criterion is very strict, however, it is working and patients do seem to be seen fairly quickly.
With dental laboratories closed too, we are looking at purchasing some denture repair kit that can be used at home – we will keep you updated on this.
For many years Pieter has wanted to introduce a club at the practice, a club that gives recognition to our loyal patients. The lockdown has allowed Pieter to give ‘The Club’ some attention and we think we may have produced something quiet special for you all. I won’t say too much at this stage but listen out…we will be in touch shortly about The Club and how it will work…something exciting for the future.
I am pleased to report our team are all well and healthy – we are still communicating regularly and using this time do online courses and partake in various online learning that has become available. Whilst we would all prefer to be back at the surgery looking after your teeth and gums, we are all embracing the time at home to catch up on various bits and bobs and of course, loving the sunshine!
VE day celebration may have looked very different if we had not been in lockdown. Due to the current situation we all had to find a different way to celebrate. It was lovely to see people sitting outside with neighbours, keeping a safe distance of course but still taking the time to get together and share stories of what they recall back in 1945 when the War was finally declaired as over!
Ironic really that 75 years on we are fighting again, against an army that we cannot see! I am sure at some point on VE day you took a moment to stop to think about how elated our families must have been all those years ago when the end of the war was announced and in some ‘small’ way might compare it to how we might feel when we too can see our loved ones again and give them a hug…which is very long overdue!
The email address that is used to send out patient emails is not monitored daily – it is on a secured network. If you need to contact us, please email donna@calmandgentledentalcare.co.uk or call us on 01903 856888 – I promise we will contact you.
Don’t forget, we are here if you need us; please let us know if we can help in anyway or if you know of a neighbour that needs support.
Until our next update…Stay safe; look after yourselves and one another!
See you all soon J
Coronavirus Update Calm & Gentle Dental Care | 29th April 2020
Firstly, we hope you are all staying safe and keeping well during these unprecedented times. We wanted to stay in touch and keep you updated with what we are doing while our doors are closed.
There is lots going on behind the scenes to make sure that when we can see you all again you all feel safe.
No doubt we will need to get used to a new type of 'normal' for a while however, whatever it takes because the safety of our patients and staff is of the up-most importance to us.
We have continued to speak to patients that require dental advice and where necessary prescribed medication. Vanessa has continued to help patients that need support and been chatting to patients over the telephone. We love to hear from you!
If you know of anyone that needs our help - or maybe a regular call, please, let us know. We want to help where we can.
Fariba, Graham, Christina, Lilli, Karen, Jozcia and Vanessa are all keeping well and looking forward to seeing you all again soon.
Please, if you have any questions let us know? Either call 01903 856888 or email donna@calmandgentledentalcare.co.uk we promise we will get back to you.
Well, I will update our COVID-19 web page again next week - in the mean time, look after yourself and one another. 😊
Coronavirus Update Calm & Gentle Dental Care | 16th April 2020
Well, its been four weeks since we last updated our COVID-19 information page - how could we have all imagined the adjustments that we would need to make to ensure we stay safe and well? There’s no doubt that this is a very difficult time for everyone.
On the 25th March 2020 the NHS England issued a statement that provided us with much needed guidance as to what we were expected to do during these uncertain times. We had already implemented various measures to further ensure safety for all of our patients and staff however, on receipt of the statement issued, we, like all other dental clinics in the UK, both private and NHS were asked to close.
While we have been closed, we have received lots of questions from our current and new patients; we thought it might be helpful to share the questions and answers with you…I am sure they are things we have all thought about.
I have an appointment booked for next week; will it still go ahead?
No, all future appointments will be rescheduled. We are slowly contacting all patients however, this is a slow process and of course we do not know ‘at the moment’ when we will be through the other side of this pandemic so unable to reschedule a new appointment.
You may receive a text or email in the first instance – if you slip though the net, our apologies, please do not attend any appointments until further notice
I tried to call the practice but no one answered?
We have and are updating our answerphone message as much as possible – our telephone company provider is working hard to stay up-to-date however, as you can imagine they are inundated.
We are able to access the answer phone messages from home so please, leave us a message and someone will call you back. It may not be someone you are used to talking too but if necessary, we can organise for the dentist to call you and offer advice. Otherwise, send me an email - donna@calmandgentledentalcare.co.uk
I am worried that I will miss my routine dentist appointment
We understand patients will be concerned about their dental health but be reassured, if you are a regular attender and maintain excellent oral health, the chances of anything developing over the next 4 to 8 weeks (I am being optimistic!), is very low risk.
As always, brush twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste – think about introducing a mouthwash if you do not use one already and floss…there are many variations of floss and flossetts, teepees etc...on the market – I have copied a link below that you may also find useful.
https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/basics/brushing-and-flossing/how-to-floss
If the link doesn't open - copy and paste into your internet browser
Will I get gum disease if I miss my regular hygienist appointment?
If you continue to look after your teeth and gums at home, as mentioned above, it is very unlikely you will develop gum disease over the coming weeks. That said, please let us know if you have any concerns - we could always arrange for one of our hygienist to give you a call...we are here for you.
I have chipped a tooth, what can I do?
Firstly does it hurt? If yes, leave us a message or send me an email and we can arrange for one of our dentist to give you a call.
If it doesn't hurt but it is sharp we would suggest buying a temporary filling kit from Boots, Superdrug or the larger pharmacies. This putty like material will allow you to cover the sharp edge and protect your cheeks and tongue.
I have a very bad aching tooth, can you see me?
We are not able to see any patients at the moment however; the government are slowly implementing community hubs that will see patients with Acute dental pain.
If you are experiencing dental pain, leave us a message or send me an email and we can arrange for one of our dentist to give you a call.
Please, keep your questions coming – its good to stay in touch!
Do not forget, we want to help where we can so if you need any help or support, our staff are happy to help…we are in this together!
We will be in touch soon – stay well, stay safe and look after one another!
Coronavirus update Calm & Gentle Dental Care | 18th March 2020
The health and safety of our patients is extremely important to us. Our cross infection procedures are always maintained to the highest standards. Due to growing concerns surrounding the Coronvirus (COVID-19) we are exceeding our already vigilant practices and procedures to keep you safe to ensure both patient and staff safety.
Changes we are making this week:
- Patients will be asked at the point of booking if they have been out of the country in the past 14 days or been in contact with anyone demonstrating symptoms or conformed Coronavirus.
- They will be asked this question again when they arrive for their appointment.
- Patients are required to wash their hands upon arrival and encouraged to do so again at departure.
- We have provided additional hand-gel for patients to use in addition to the recommended hand-washing.
- Every patient will be offered Peroxyl mouthwash to use prior to and after visits. This mouthwash has shown promise at reducing oral bacteria and viruses and it is a hydrogen peroxide-based oral rinse.
- Patients may choose to stay in their car instead of sitting in our waiting area. If this interests you, please send us a text message upon arrival to 07860 048576 and we will let you know when the clinician is ready to see you.
- We have removed, reading materials and the water machine from the waiting area - if you need refreshment, staff will be happy to provide it for you.
We propose that if possible you keep your dental appointments especially if you are part-way through treatment.
If you or you know anyone that lives in Rustington that needs support, please let us know - we are happy to help where we can regarding picking up essentials - if we cannot help, we will find someone that can!
Let’s stay healthy and look after one another.
